g4 powerpcwont boot unless

Did you make sure that the power cord is plugged in?

 

Sounds like you went and got an old one to me. What is the condition of the clock battery?

 

I'm in the process of upgrading about 500 various Macs to Panther. Once in a while I will try to image, say, a graphite 400. The install goes well, it boots, then on re-boot the screen stays black. Forever. I've had it happen 3 times, once from a "normal" CD install, and am clueless on why.

 

I know on more recent Power Mac G4's, pressing the PMU reset button on the motherboard would cure this problem. I'm not sure about the Yikes motherboard though. Look around on your motherboard for a little plastic button. If you find it, with the machine unplugged, press this button for a few seconds. Hopefully this will clear it up (if you have the button).

 

Try starting up in OS 9 (if possible) and update your firmware. That could be a problem.

It was a problem with the iMacs, if you didn't update the firmware before install Panther you'd get a black screen on boot. Only way to solve is to start up with external monitor in OS 9 and update.

 

There is no firmware upgrade for the Yikes

This is not a firmware problem

 

I didn't know that. I haven't a clue then. I had the exact same problem with a PowerMac 8200 with a pci graphics card (vga). Maybe it's a PCI thing.

Could even be a monitor problem...?

 

Not many options

You bought the absolute bottom-end G4 that is 4-5 years old. You got two months out of it. You couldn't have paid too much for it, and if you have "spare" parts to swap in you must have other systems there.

I'd write it off and get a new one.

Some thing you mention doesn't make sense. You said that it wont start, and yet pressing the PRAM reset key-combo brings it back?

Well either it won't start at all, or it starts up and the monitor doesn't come on.

Did you try a different monitor? Different cables?

And if it really does not turn on at all sometimes by pressing the front button, maybe that front panel's circuit board is bad/loose.

It really isn't worth so much trouble for something so old and underpowered. Get a refurb eMac or something.

 

Wow I wish I had the money to just go buy a new eMac did You try resetting the MOBO?? Remove the powercord and open the case and remove the Battery for Ten minutes press the power next to the PMU and replace the battery and press the PMU button. What green motherboard lights are on when You press power??
replace the battery and press the PMU button.